Two smoke shop employees arrested for selling flavored vape products in the Sixth District

Suffolk County police arrested two employees on May 11 for allegedly selling flavored vape products in the Sixth District.

As part of the department’s “Operation Smoke Out,” officers from the Sixth Precinct Criminal Investigation Division conducted an investigation at two smoke shops where employees were selling flavored e-cigarette products to a minor. Large quantities of flavored e-cigarette products were seized at both locations. The following people were arrested and charged with alleged second-degree unlawful contact with a child:

• Aum Mihir Bhatt, 21, of Miller Place, employee of Gary’s Smoke Shop, 87 North Country Road in Miller Place.

• Feniben Patel, 23, of Centereach, an employee of Evolve Smoke Shop, 764 Route 25A in East Setauket.

Those arrested have been issued warrants and are scheduled to be arraigned May 31 in First District Court in Central Islip.